News Release

Ontario Making Progress on Finch West Light Rail Transit Project

Ontario is making progress on the Finch West Light Rail Transit (LRT) project -- a priority transit investment in the City of Toronto that will bring much-needed rapid transit to communities along Finch Avenue West and further support the province's plan to build an integrated transportation network across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx have issued a request for qualifications for interested parties to design, build, finance and maintain the Finch West Light Rail Transit project.

As part of the largest infrastructure investment in Ontario's history, the new LRT, located along Finch Avenue West in the city's northwest end, will be integrated with the city's existing transit system.

The project includes:

11 kilometres of new dedicated rapid transit between Humber College and the new Finch West subway station on the Toronto-York Spadina subway extension

18 surface stops and a below-grade interchange station to connect with the new Finch West subway station

A maintenance and storage facility for the light rail vehicles

The project will help transform Finch Avenue West into a vibrant community, accessible to motorists, transit riders, cyclists and pedestrians. The LRT will provide service that is faster, more frequent and reliable than the existing bus service by travelling in dedicated lanes with signal priority at intersections.

The Finch West LRT project will also provide economic and social benefits to the local communities, including employment and training opportunities, apprenticeships, and local supplier and social enterprise opportunities, where possible.

Improving public transit across the GTHA is part of the government's plan to build Ontario up. The four-part plan includes investing in people's talents and skills, making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario's history, creating a dynamic, innovative environment where business thrives, and building a secure retirement savings plan so everyone can afford to retire.

Quick Facts

The project is being delivered using Infrastructure Ontario’s Alternative Financing and Procurement model, which transfers appropriate risks associated with design, construction, financing and maintenance of the project to the private sector. The Finch West LRT will remain publicly owned.

As established through a Master Agreement between Metrolinx and the City of Toronto, the TTC will operate the Finch West LRT.

The request for qualifications is the first step in the procurement process to select a team to deliver the project. Submissions will be evaluated to prequalify project teams with the relevant design and construction experience, and the capacity to finance and deliver a project of this size and complexity. Teams who qualify will be invited to respond to a request for proposals.

This project is part of the Moving Ontario Forward plan, which commits $31.5 billion over 10 years for investment in priority infrastructure projects across the province, including about $16 billion for priority rapid transit projects in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, and about $15 billion for investment in transportation and other priority infrastructure projects across the rest of the province.

Modernizing infrastructure will support more than 110,000 jobs a year on average in construction and related industries.

Additional Resources

Quotes

“This is an exciting milestone for the Finch West LRT project. This new LRT line will help offer more efficient and convenient travel options for priority neighbourhoods and will play an important role in improving and connecting transit services across the city and surrounding areas. The Finch West LRT is further proof of our government’s commitment to making the daily commute and quality of life better for Ontario families.”

“The Finch West LRT is another important part of the region’s integrated transit network and is identified in Metrolinx’s regional transportation plan. As an extension of the existing TTC network, and with connections to GO Transit bus services and existing Mississauga and Brampton transit, the Finch West LRT line will bring fast, reliable and convenient service to the communities that need it most.”